Social media is buzzing with reactions to the five-year jail term handed out to Indian actor Salman Khan on May 6 for killing one person and injuring four others in a drink-driving accident in Mumbai 13 years ago.
Many Bollywood stars took to Twitter to express their shock at the sentence, and to voice their support for the 49-year-old.
Some, such as veteran actress Hema Malini, avoided being drawn into commenting on the verdict and punishment, instead expressing her affection and sympathy for the actor.
Others, such as Farah Khan Ali, celebrity jewellery designer and sister of actor Zayed Khan, criticised the verdict and “harsh sentencing” with outrageous tweets that quickly drew scorn and contempt.
Here are some of the most notable Twitter reactions:
Designer Farah Khan Ali – @FarahKhanAli
The govt should be responsible for housing ppl. If no 1was sleeping on d road in any other country Salman wuld not have driven over anybody.
It’s like penalising a train driver because someone decided to cross the tracks and got killed in the bargain.
No one should be sleeping on the road or footpath. It is dangerous to do that just like it is dangerous to cross tracks.
Bollywood singer Abhijeet – @abhijeetsinger
Those who sleep on the road like dogs will die a dog’s death. The roads are not owned by the fathers of poor people. I was homeless a year and never slept on the road.
Come out fraternity, support @BeingSalmanKhan boldly not hypocriticly. Roads footpath r not meant 4 sleeping, not driver’s or alcohol’s fault
Actress Alia Bhatt – @aliaa08
It hurts when your own are punished, even if they are in the wrong. We love you and are standing by you
Actress Sonakshi Sinha – @sonakshisinha
Terrible news. Dnt knw wht to say except tht will stand by @BeingSalmanKhan no matter what. Hes a good man and no 1 can tk tht away frm him.
Actress Parineeti Chopra – @ParineetiChopra
Hurts to think of what could happen. We will always be with you. Hope the judge sees the beauty of a human being that Salman Khan is.
Actor Arjun Kapoor – @arjunk26
It doesn’t matter what anyone or any court says, he doesn’t deserve this at any level ... will stand by @BeingSalmanKhanno matter what...
Model and reality television star Pooja Misrra – @SpareMeSaysPM
Just bcoz @BeingSalmanKhan’s d superstar, d court cannot slaughter him just 2 set an example! Dey cannot overlook all his humanitarian acts!
Actress Bipasha Basu – @bipsluvurself
@BeingSalmanKhan is the nicest human being in this business. Wish all our Prayers and love, help him in this difficult time. Deeply saddened.
Pritam Singh – @iampritampyaare
Sad sad sad he is paying the prize [sic] of being a star..
Actress Sushmita Sen – @thesushmitasen
There is an enormous difference between being a criminal and being human. True justice is then served. Keep d faith... and Prayers n strength 4 my friend @BeingSalmanKhan n his family. Harsh sentencing doesn’t mean justice. Must appeal. Deeply saddened.
Actor Siddhanth Kapoor – @SiddhanthKapoor
All my good wishes and love to you bhai @BeingSalmanKhan
Filmmaker Farah Khan – @TheFarahKhan
In Dubai. But thoughts n prayers are still in Mumbai with @BeingSalmanKhan n his family.
Actor Varun Dhawan – @Varun_dvn
My prayers are with @BeingSalmanKhan and his family who I know love this country and respect its judiciary.
artslife@thenational.ae
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
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